The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-17

great was the danger to all. but James Burbank
did not dream for a moment of refusing lis sons
request He thought, like him, that it a
duty, and everything must give place to duty.
Gilbert, then, set out for the North; but his
departure was kept secret as possible II Il
was known at Jacksonville that James Bur-
banks son had entered the Northern service
reprisals would at once have been taken on
Candles Bay. The young man had been given
letters OF introduction to his fathers friends in
New Jersey He had always shown a taste foc
the sea. and his friends had no difficulty in pro-
curing him an appointment in the federal navy.
Promotion was rapid in those days, and as Gill
bert was not one Of those who remained in the
rear, he soon got The Washington govern
ment had its eyes this young man who, in the
position he found his family. did not hesitate to
offer his service. Gilbert distinguished himself
at the attack of Fort Sumter. He was the
Richmond when that ship was rammed by the
Manassas at the mouth of the Mississippi, and
contributed largely to recapture her. After this
affair he was made an ensign. although he had
not been through the naval school of Annapolis
any more than many of the other officers who
had been transferred froms the mercantile ma
rine. In his new capacity he joined the squadron
of Commodore Dupont, and assisted at the
brilliant attack. Fort Hatteras and the
capture of the Sea islands. During the last
few weeks he had been lieutenant one of
Dupont's gunboats which were about to force
the mouths of the St Johns.
Gilbert himself IonRed for early termina-
ton of tEe war. He loved and was loved, and
when his service was over he would return to
Candies Bay and marry the daughter of one Of
his fathers best friends.
Mr. Stannard did not belong to the class of
Floridan planters. A widower, and a man of
fortune he had devoted himself entirely to the
education of his daughter He lived at Jack
sonyille, SO that to get to Candles Bay he had
only to go up three four miles of the river.
For fifteen years not week bad passed without
his visiting the Burbanks. 1t might almost be
said that Gilbert and Alice were brought up to-
gether. and a marriage that had been planned
for years had been decided on, which
would bring happiness to BOTH Although Walter
Stannard a native of the South, he was an
anti-slavery man. were several others Of his
FIoridan fellow-citizens; but these wers not nu-
merous enough to withstand the majority of the
inhabitants of Jacksonville, whose opinions
daily tended more and more in favor of the
separatist movement Stannard and his friends
began consequently to be looked upon unfavor-
ably by the leaders of the county. and especially
by the small whites and populace, who were
ready for any excess.
Walter Stannard was born at New Orleans.
Mrs Stannard was French woman; she had
died young, and left to her daughter those noble
qualities which peculiar to French blood
When Gilbert went away, Alice had shown an
energy that had given Mrs. Burbank much COM
fort and support. Although she loved Gilbert as
she herself was loved, she invariably told his
mother that it was his duty to 60 and fight for
the good cause, to fight for the freedom of race,
and. in short for liberty. She then nine
teen; fair. with eyes almost blue. of warm COM
plexion. elegant figure, and distinguished feat
ures She might be little serious, but SO
mobile was her expression. that the least smile
would light up her beautiful face.
The Burbank family would not be known in
all its most faithful members, if we omitted to
say something of its two servants, Mars and
Zermah.
AS we have seen from this letter. Gilbert had
not gone away alone. Mars, the husband of
zermah, had accompanied him. He could not
have found a more devoted companion than this
slave from Candles Bay, who had become free
by setting foot anti-slavery soil. But to
Mars. Gilbert was always 1.-THE young master"
and he would not leave him, although the fed
eral government had already formed regiments
Mars and Zermah were not of the negro race
by birth. They were half Zermah's
brother was that heroic slave, Robert Small.
who, four months later, captured from the con-
federates in the very bay of Charleston, a
steamer with two guns. which he took over to
the federal feet
The marriage Of Zermah and Mars was
happy one, which more than once during it's
FIRST FEARS, the odious traffic in slaves had threat
ened to break It was at tho moment when
they were about to be separated by the fortune
Of the aucrion-room, that they came to Candies
Bay.
These were the circumstances:
Zermah was thirty -one years old, Mars thirty
FIVE. Seven years before they had been married,
when they belonged to Mr.. Tickborn, whose
plantation was on the river, twenty miles above
Candies Bay. For some years Tickborn had
had business transactions with Texar who was
often welcome visitor to the plantation. There
was nothing surprising in this. for Tickborn was
not thought much Of in the country His abli-
ties were not very brilliant: and. his affairs not
prospecting, he was obliged to put up lot of his
slaves for SALE
At this very time Zermah, who was very badly
treated, like all the rest Tickborn's planta-
tlon, brought baby into the world, which was
taken away from her. for while she
was in prison for crime of which she was in
nocent, her baby died in her arms. It may be
guessed what was the grief Of Zermah, and the
anger of Mars. But what could they do against
master to whom belonged their flesh, living or
lead, because he had bought itl
To this another less terrible was |
added. The day after their child died, Mars |
md Zermah were packed off to the auctioneer, |
md threatened with separation. Yesl The con-
ISOLATION of finding themselves together under a
lew master was denied them. A man presented |
himself who offered to buy Zermah and Zermah
'lone, although he did not own a plantation.
This man was Texar. His friend Tickborn was
bout to sign the agreement when. at the last
moment, another bidder appeared on the scene
md offered higher price. This was James
Burbank, who happened to be at the sale. and